The video in this post was originally published by the International Association of Machinists and is a part of the Power at Work Blog's "Partners in Power" series, which features articles republished in partnership with other labor publications. Click here to read more Partners in Power pieces on the Power At Work Blog.
Collective bargaining may be the most important arena in which workers and their unions both build and exercise worker power. It is core union business. Yet, few union members get the opportunity to witness the process up close, and almost no one from the general public knows much about it at all. Even local union leaders may not have exposure to the complicated environment and interactions involved with a national collective bargaining round.
In this video from Power At Work’s partners at the International Association of Machinists (IAM), two local union leaders share their experiences participating in a bargaining session for a new national agreement with UPS. IAM Local 701 Shop Steward Bernard Horbrook and IAM Local 10 Shop Steward Travis Smith traveled to Chicago to represent their membership and share local perspectives on the contract with national leaders and business representatives. We found the video compelling and appreciated how it approached an important issue in union communications and governance.
Our goal is to share this video widely and spark discussions about members’ involvement in the collective bargaining process. Our hope is that you will respond — by posting a video or writing in the comments below — with your own experiences participating in your union’s collective bargaining with your employer and what you learned from those experiences. We also welcome your thoughts about how unions can involve their members more directly and regularly in bargaining.
Watch now to see how Horbrook and Smith proudly represent their membership and bring their local’s needs into the national discussion. They also explain what they learned by participating in a national negotiation for the first time.
Horbrook emphasized the importance of local members taking part in national bargaining, sharing that “negotiation certainly is a lot more detailed and intricate than most of us would know."
"This is my first [time] ever being in a national negotiation, even as a steward. I think it was a good thing that a few of us stewards were able to get here. I found it to be very good in the sense that we actually had a voice,” he said. “We were given time to talk and to give our perspective and the things that’s concerning the everyday worker. We’re able to put that to the floor and to the table to be discussed amongst the group.”
Smith encouraged union members to play an active role in their contract negotiations: "Participating in negotiations gives us the opportunity to influence decisions that directly affect our members, making our union stronger and more responsive to our needs,” he said.
Do you have stories, videos, or articles about worker power to share? Post a link in the Power At Work comments section below to join the discussion.
